English

Why is the subject important?

Our English curriculum at Trinity Academy Bradford equips all students with the functional skills needed for later life, whilst nurturing a passion and love of literature from across the world. We work as a team to ensure that our curriculum is tailored and differentiated to meet the needs of our cohort to allow each of our students the opportunity to thrive in English and beyond.

Through the study of English Literature, our students develop a knowledge of and embrace cultural capital through a variety of well-considered texts across the English canon; students are exposed to a range of contextual backgrounds and momentous historical events. These underpin and explore our core values as a school.

Through the study of English Language, we foster the analytical thinking of our students in order to develop their inquisitive natures which will empower them to criticise the things that they read, see and hear in the modern world. It is our aim to ensure that students have a comprehensive vocabulary to access and articulate challenging ideas. We endeavour to teach students a range of oracy and literacy skills which make them effective communicators across a range of modes and mediums.

Year 7

What will I be studying?

  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
  • Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
  • An anthology of short stories about identity
  • An anthology of poems about identity

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed three times during the academic year, with a focus on developing both reading and writing skills.

Throughout the year, students will explore key characters and themes from the texts they study. In each reading assessment, they will be asked to present a clear argument supported by carefully selected quotations. They will also analyse the writer’s use of literary techniques, demonstrating their ability to interpret and evaluate how meaning is created.

Writing tasks will alternate between creative writing and transactional writing (such as letters, speeches, or articles). Students will be assessed on their ability to craft imaginative narratives or persuasive arguments, using literary methods to achieve specific effects. Grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity will also form part of the assessment criteria.

Students will also take part in the Master of Recall assessments which take place at the end of each term to assess the retention of new knowledge covered within the term. This will assess the retention of knowledge from the knowledge organisers. Regular knowledge recall will take place at the beginning of every lesson.

Knowledge Organisers

  • Term 1 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Animal Farm
  • Term 2 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Animal Farm
  • Term 3 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Romeo and Juliet
  • Term 4 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Romeo and Juliet
  • Term 5 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Identity Short Stories
  • Term 6 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Identity Poetry

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

What will I be studying? 

  • Stone Cold by Robert Swindells
  • An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
  • Othello by William Shakespeare
  • An anthology of short stories about power
  • An anthology of poems about power

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed three times during the academic year, with a focus on developing both reading and writing skills.

Throughout the year, students will explore key characters and themes from the texts they study. In each reading assessment, they will be asked to present a clear argument supported by carefully selected quotations. They will also analyse the writer’s use of literary techniques, demonstrating their ability to interpret and evaluate how meaning is created.

Writing tasks will alternate between creative writing and transactional writing (such as letters, speeches, or articles). Students will be assessed on their ability to craft imaginative narratives or persuasive arguments, using literary methods to achieve specific effects. Grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity will also form part of the assessment criteria.

Students will also take part in the Master of Recall assessments which take place at the end of each term to assess the retention of new knowledge covered within the term. This will assess the retention of knowledge from the knowledge organisers. Regular knowledge recall will take place at the beginning of every lesson.

Knowledge Organisers

  • Term 1 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Stone Cold
  • Term 2 – Vocabulary to support teaching of An Inspector Calls
  • Term 3 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Othello
  • Term 4 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Othello
  • Term 5 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Power Short Stories
  • Term 6 – Vocabulary to support teaching of Power Poetry

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

What will I be studying?

There are three assessments over the course of the year. They are broken down into three combined reading and writing assessments.

  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller
  • An anthology of poetry to inspire creative writing
  • Non-fiction writing with a speaking and listening component

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed three times during the academic year, with a focus on developing both reading and writing skills.

Throughout the year, students will explore key characters and themes from the texts they study. In each reading assessment, they will be asked to present a clear argument supported by carefully selected quotations. They will also analyse the writer’s use of literary techniques, demonstrating their ability to interpret and evaluate how meaning is created.

Writing tasks will alternate between creative writing and transactional writing (such as letters, speeches, or articles). Students will be assessed on their ability to craft imaginative narratives or persuasive arguments, using literary methods to achieve specific effects. Grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity will also form part of the assessment criteria.

Students will also take part in the Master of Recall assessments which take place at the end of each term to assess the retention of new knowledge covered within the term. This will assess the retention of knowledge from the knowledge organisers. Regular knowledge recall will take place at the beginning of every lesson.

Knowledge Organisers

  • Term 1 – Vocabulary to support teaching of The Crucible
  • Term 2 – Vocabulary to support teaching of The Crucible
  • Term 3 – Vocabulary from our ‘Big Ideas’
  • Term 4 – Vocabulary from our ‘Big Ideas’
  • Term 5 – Vocabulary to support teaching of creative writing
  • Term 6 – Vocabulary to support teaching of non-fiction writing

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

What will I be studying? 

  • AQA English Language Paper 1: Explorations in creative writing and reading
  • AQA English Language Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives

How will I be assessed? 

Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading

  • One literature fiction text

Section B: Writing

  • Descriptive or narrative writing

 Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

80 marks

50% of GCSE

Questions:

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – four questions based on one previously unseen fiction text

Writing (40 marks) (25%) – one extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Reading

  • One non-fiction text and one literary non-fiction text

Section B: Writing

  • Writing to present a viewpoint

 Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

80 marks

50% of GCSE

Questions:

Reading (40 marks) (25%) – four questions based on two previously unseen non-fiction texts

Writing (40 marks) (25%) – one extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language

  • Presenting
  • Responding to questions and feedback
  • Use of Standard English

Which examination board am I following? 

Exam Board: AQA

Specification: 8700

Website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700

Which websites should I use to support my learning? 

What will I be studying?

  • English Literature Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century novel
  • English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

Studied Content:

  • Macbeth (Shakespeare)
  • A Christmas Carol (19th century novel)
  • Blood Brothers (Modern text)
  • Power and Conflict Poetry (Poetry)
  • Unseen Poetry (Unseen)

How will I be assessed?

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel

How it is assessed:

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 64 marks
  • 40% of GCSE

Questions:

Section A Shakespeare (34 marks): students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.

Section B The 19th-century novel (30 marks): students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry

How it is assessed:

  • written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
  • 96 marks
  • 60% of GCSE

Questions:

Section A Modern texts (34 marks): students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.

Section B Poetry (30 marks): students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.

Section C Unseen poetry (32 marks): Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

Which examination board am I following?

Exam Board: AQA

Specification: 8702

Website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-literature-8702

Which websites should I use to support my learning?

Ofsted Good Provider
Trinity Scholars

Trinity Scholar students benefit from an additional investment of up to £6000

Click to find out more!